Meet An Auditor: Spencer Myers
August 2018 Update
Name: Spencer Myers
Current job and location: Senior Associate at KPMG LLP, San Francisco, CA
Number of years with the firm: 4 years
Hometown: Tahoe City, CA
College/Major: Sonoma State University/French and Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting
How long have you now been employed with your accounting firm?
I have been employed at KPMG for almost 4 years!
Briefly describe your current role, and how it’s different than when we last connected.
When we last connected I was an associate working my way through the trenches and almost overwhelmed with everything I was learning every single day. I remember looking at my seniors and managers wondering how they got to where they were and whether or not I would be able to do the same. It is funny how much just 3-4 months of busy season boosts your confidence while also making you realize how much more you have to learn. As a Senior Associate, it is exciting to bear the responsibility of coaching associates, managing your managers and partners, and working with the clients on a daily basis. It is at this point that you walk into the room knowing what you have to bring to the table!
What are you most excited about in your current position?
I am most excited to have more ownership when working with and helping to lead my teams.
Now that you have advanced in your career, is there any new advice that you would offer to undergraduate students who are considering a career in audit?
I would encourage them to get their CPA ASAP! 🙂 But most importantly in my opinion, find the balance you need when you start your career. It is easy to get enveloped and want to be the hardest worker right off the bat, but it is also important to explore your passions and find your ‘happy place’ outside of the workplace.
Finally, what do you most look forward to in your professional future?
I am looking forward to the opportunities that have yet to come! I have met some amazing people and I know that I am going to continue to meet more. Additionally, I have had an exciting career that has included travelling domestically and internationally and look forward to many more adventures.
Original 2016 Post
Name & Age: Spencer Myers, 25
Current job and location: Associate at KPMG LLP, San Francisco, CA
Number of years with the firm: 1 year
Hometown: Tahoe City, CA
College/Major: Sonoma State University/French and Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting
Briefly describe what is your current role at the firm?
I work in the Asset Management group, specifically Alternative Investments. I focus on Venture Capital funds, which means we are auditing the funds that go into startup companies. And recently, I have had the opportunity to dabble in hedge funds as well, which is quite the experience.
What one personal quality helps you most in your auditing career and why?
Communication. There is not a second in my day that communication is not a key to the success in my career. Whether it be writing a memo documenting my findings in some testwork, emailing and calling the company executives, or the written and oral dialogue I must maintain with my teams to ensure that we are all on the same page. Communication is a key to anyone’s success in any career, but especially a career in auditing. Often people picture a stereotypical accountant being locked away in a basement not seeing the light of day, little do people realize how much of our job is centered on interpersonal interaction.
What experience as an undergraduate student provided you with the best preparation for your job and why?
As an undergrad, it was my internship and campus involvement that best prepared me for my job. My internships with KPMG taught me the values I hold today. The importance of leading by example, respecting those around me, and acting with integrity at all times. My participation in campus activities taught me how to balance work and play. I learned how to be involved and have ownership over the direction of my career while bearing increased responsibility.
What advice, personal or professional, do you have for students considering a career in auditing?
Find a mentor. Make sure you are open to meeting people who are going to invest in you both personally and professionally. Someone who is there to be your soundboard, correct your errors, and challenge you to be the best that you can be. Everything I have learned comes from the different mentors I have had since I began my career.
What has been the best part of your job and why?
The best part of my job are the challenges we face and the people with whom we face these challenges. On a daily basis we are being pushed to problem solve and work together. It is the most rewarding and empowering feeling when you, as a team, overcome obstacles. And after this is done, we are not sick of each other and continue the fun by being friends outside of work and hanging out during the weekends.